National Poetry Month #19: To All the Mothers I Know

Mom, Dad, and me doing dishes at Grandma Woolum's When You Thought I Wasn't Looking When you thought I wasn't looking You hung my first …

National Poetry Month #18: Thank you Judith Viorst for "The Pleasures of Ordinary Life"

Being such an avid fan of poetry I have lots of favorites. I have LOTS of favorites, but this one by Judith Viorst really speaks to me. It reminds m…

Beautiful Corner of the World: Road Trips

Yesterday we did a stop for lunch at Frater Lake on Tiger Highway, northeastern  Washington state.  JEJ and I love to take drives and short road tri…

National Poetry Month #17: To Say Nothing But Thank You

When I watched my students work hard to make Earth Day a success I say thank you. When I return home tired and sore and see my gardens awakening to s…

National Poetry Month #16: Woman Who Loves Gardening

Days like today get me in the mood for digging in the dirt. Bulbs are coming up, the weather is warming, we are bathed in green. At a writing worksh…

National Poetry Month #15: From Triumph to Grief

When a student overcomes obstacles we celebrate! We cheered J.S. on as she was escorted to graduation last spring by her beautiful child.  Today we c…

National Poetry Month #14 : Caroline Kennedy and Joy Harjo

During National Poetry Month I like to give shout-outs to poetry anthologies I enjoy and recommend. Caroline Kennedy's most recent anthology is e…

National Poetry Month #13: Mary Oliver at her Best

It is hard to single out favorite poems by poets you admire. There are so many poems, so many messages. Often the meaning of the poem hits me at a t…

National Poetry Month #12: Easter Hymn

memorial on Bow highway, Skagit Valley There are so many hymns that speak to my heart at Easter. This is a favorite. I Know that My Redeemer Lives By: …

National Poetry Month #11: Photographer

This is dedicated to my brother  Bill Woolum , my favorite photographer. Photographer Light has limits. What he can't see He believes in. He tack…

National Poetry Month #10: Thank You

Two words that resonated with me today: thank you. Thanks by  W. S. Merwin Listen with the night falling we are saying thank you we are stopping on the…

National Poetry Month #9 : Favoring Billy Collins

Billy Collins came through today and provided a priceless poem to describe one of those rare, perfect spring days.  Today   by Billy Collins If ever the…

A Time to Plant

Today was the first time I got my hands into the dirt and did some planting. I started this week-end with containers since there are not many plants…

National Poetry Month #8: Fresh

On a trip to the western part of Washington state this week I was immersed, surrounded, and in awe of natural beauty each and every day. This poem w…

National Poetry Month #7: Stay Gold

This isn't the name of the poem by Robert Frost, but it is the phrase that always resonated with me when I read this poem because of the charact…

National Poetry Month #6: Traveling the Rivers of Washington

I wrote this poem as I listened to the names of the rivers in Washington state. As I traveled across a good portion of Washington state today, I pho…

National Poetry Month #5: House or Home?

When does a house become a home? I am such a nester I can make my car, a motel room, a guest room, or an RV home in no time. Home is where your husba…

National Poetry Month #4: Ask Me

Palouse River at Palouse Falls I love this poem for so many reasons. Every time I read it, a different layer of meaning emerges. I always love what th…